I would like all of us to have a loving thought for SaphirActar, who, for once, didn't suggest that this prompt could be based on LiverPepper's AU. Too bad, because really that would have been the perfect time for that XD

No new rules here either! (actually there's only one rule missing)

Theme : Dark Night

It was one of these dark, painful nights where Cloud wondered what was worst between the geostigma and the drugs. One of those nights where he couldn't sleep, where he considered taking the whole box of sleeping pills and never wake up again. Never feel the pain again.

A loud snore next to him brought a smile to his face. That was unfair. Because if he took the pills, he would never wake up to the face next to him again. Never be able to feel so much love again.

The babyphone crackled slightly. He freed himself from the arm wrapped around him, carefully, taking care not to waking the person next to him.

His steps took him to the babies' room. They were peacefully sleeping. Roxas was quiet, his tiny thumb stuck in his tiny mouth, clutching his plush in his fist. His eyebrows were furrowed, and Cloud wondered if he was having a nightmare. Sora, on the other hand, slept in the weirdest position ever, twisted in his cover, almost riding his Pooh plush with a wide grin on his face. Until he'd witness it by himself, Cloud would have never believed an 18-months-old baby could grin like that.

Watching them sleep was soothing. Sora would occasionally give some kicks in the air, and Cloud wondered what a baby could dream about.

Roxas stirred, whining. Cloud took him in his arms before the baby would actually cry and wake the whole house up.

"It's okay, Roxas. Pa is here. There's no need to be afraid of your dreams. I will protect you."

The baby took his thumb out of his mouth and grabbed his father's shirt, without waking up. Cloud sat back into the sofa, and started rocking Roxas softly. The baby's face looked calmer. In his sleep, he muttered "Pa", and Cloud's heart felt so warm, so full of love.

"Hey. Can't sleep?" He turned his face at Leon's soft whisper.

"Don't mind me. Go back to sleep. You're working tomorrow." He answered with the same tone.

"That's what I'm doing." Gruntled Leon as he sat next to Cloud and snuggled up to him. He held out his hand to Roxas and tenderly fondled the curly brown hair, careful not to wake him up. The baby grabbed one of his fingers, letting go of its plush.

"Looks like I'm trapped here anyway. Well, good night then." And within seconds, he was asleep again.

Cloud looked at the three men of his life. The one riding his teddy bear and probably dreaming of marvelous adventure. The one holding his fathers captive by the power of his tiny fists. The one he married and had decided so long again he would be the one he'd spend his life with.

He gave a light kiss on his husband forehead.

It was one of those dark nights, full of pain.

But if pain was the price to pay to love so much, he would be ready to pay it over and over.

In the LiverPepper AU, Sora and Roxas are around 15, but somehow I always end up writing scenes of them being kids? x'DD (mostly because normal teenagers are less interesting to write about. And because, really, I'm just writing about Cloud and Leon, the kids are extras here XD) [also as a side note if you're not familiar with the AU, Roxas isn't a real blonde, he just bleaches his hair, so the twins naturally share the same hair colour ]

I've just signed up on AO3! I'm still new to that so I'm going to try to understand how it works now XD I will probably post my favourite previous works, as well as my current ones. Anyone on AO3? (I kept the same pen name, since the one I wanted was already taken XD)

See you tomorrow~

Let's play a game! I tell you tomorrow's theme and you tell me what you think it could be about. (even if you read this long after the next prompt is posted, you can still play! Leave a review about what/who you think it might be about, then read the next one to check. I would be so interested to know about what comes to your mind with the themes!)

Next theme : One last drink, he said